Manchester United came back from two goals down to draw 4-4 with Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday. Two stoppage-time goals saved a point for the home side in front of their angry supporters, during a difficult spell for the Premier League club.
The result leaves United in the relegation zone, sitting 18th with eight points from 10 league games. Manager Michael Carrick avoided a fifth league defeat, which could otherwise have put his job at serious risk, but his future remains uncertain.
Villa take early control before United’s late rally
Villa struck first when Alysson’s shot squirmed under keeper Senne Lammens in the opening minute. Nicolas Jackson added a second three minutes later, after a weak save from Lammens sent the ball into his path.
Also read: Raphinha and Lamine Yamal lead Barcelona past Aston Villa 3-0
United pulled a goal back from the penalty spot. Bruno Fernandes scored in the 16th minute after Boubacar Kamara fouled Matheus Cunha. Former Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans then equalised in the 44th minute.
Villa regained the lead through John McGinn’s 48th-minute penalty, awarded after Diogo Dalot challenged Alysson. Leon Goretzka made it 4-2 from close range after United’s Leny Yoro headed against his own crossbar in the 53rd minute.
United still had a route back into the game. Joshua Zirkzee finished in stoppage time, and Patrick Dorgu headed the equaliser in the final seconds after a weak punch from Villa keeper Zion Suzuki. The two late goals came within six minutes of additional time.
Carrick’s position uncertain after a turbulent run
Carrick had already survived a difficult week. United’s hierarchy kept him in charge despite last weekend’s defeat at Chelsea, a result that could have ended his tenure.
United had recently ended a nine-match winless run in all competitions, coming from two goals down to beat Roma 3-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday. However, they have only three wins in 15 matches this season, and the Villa draw left them still searching for consistency.
Carrick looked bewildered as he walked down the tunnel. United are next in action at Liverpool on November 22.
Chelsea and Liverpool results elsewhere in the Premier League
Chelsea had hoped to strengthen their bid for a top-four finish and a Champions League place, but they suffered an embarrassing defeat at the Stadium of Light. Third-bottom Sunderland celebrated only their second league win of the season.
Chelsea, who are fifth, were rocked in the 36th minute when Enzo Le Fee converted a penalty after Brian Brobbey was brought down by Levi Colwill. Chelsea have now been beaten four times in 10 league matches under former Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso.
“We were not creating enough chances in the final third against the low block. We were not controlling and sustaining the attack there,” Alonso said.
Liverpool returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory at lowly Crystal Palace. The Reds had lost to Arsenal and Fenerbahce before the trip to south London, which led to pointed questions about manager Andoni Iraola in his first season in charge.
Alexis Mac Allister headed Liverpool in front from Dominik Szoboszlai’s cross after 40 minutes. Florian Wirtz doubled the lead in the 54th minute, finishing from Bradley Barcola’s cross, and Alexander Isak sealed the win in the 89th minute. Liverpool, who are fourth, had endured a two-game losing streak before this result.
“It was an important win for us going into the international break after the week we’ve had,” Iraola said.
Eddie Nketiah’s stoppage-time penalty, awarded after a foul by Milos Kerkez, offered Palace little consolation.
